Dust seal for electric connectors

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector is provided with a thin centrally apertured resilient dust seal gasket that is adapted to hug a conductor cable passing through it. The gasket is held within a cylindrical insulating shell against a radial wall thereof by a flexible wafer made of nylon or equivalent, which in turn is secured to the shell by pins molded with the shell and on which the dust gasket and then the wafer are impaled. The assembly of the gasket and wafer within the shell is done in one pushing operation.

United States Patent 1191 Murphy et al. June 12, 1973 [5 DUST SEAL FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTORS 3,189,865 6/1965 Hawkes, Jr....' 339 103 c x 3,457,441 7/1969 Phillips et al. 339/103 R X [75] Murphy Falrfield, 3,390,371 6/1968 Kramer 339/107 Conrad M. Powell, Glastonbury, both of Conn Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore [73] Assignee: Arrow-Hart, Inc., Hartford, Conn. Attorney-wads, Faithfu" & "31 8 [22] Flled: Mar. 17, 1971 ABSTRACT Appl" 125,050 An electrical connector is provided with a thin centrally apertured resilient dust seal gasket that is adapted 52 us. Cl 339/103 B, 339/94 R to g a conductor cable Passing through The gasket 51 Int. Cl H01r 13 58 is held within a cylindrical insulating against 3 [58] Field of Search 339/94, 101, 103, dial wall thereof y a flexible wafer made of nylon or 339/l16, 218, 195, 196, 63 equivalent, which in tum'is secured to the shell by pins molded with the shell and on which the dust gasket and [56] Ref r n Cit d then the wafer are impaled. The assembly of the gasket UNITED STATES PATENTS and wafer within the shell is done in one pushing opera- 894,644 7/1908 1-1111 339/195 M x 2,502,860 4/1950 Leithiser, Jr. 339/218 R 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures H v 1" Q9 1;" /4

/3 W M11111 1 1 /a ,7 V 11m 112 20 1111 111 11 1 0 /0 H1 1 I 1 1 22 11 i}! /2 Patented June 12, 1973 v 3,739,321

/90 2 /90 42 ill 0g ying FIGI //7 van fors Robe M. Murphy 60/1/00 M P0we// By Dow's, Hox/lefa/fhfufl 8 mpgood A rforneys DUST SEAL FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTORS This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to a novel arrangement of a dust seal gasket which reduces the cost of assembly and provides a more satisfactory, less expensive and improved connector assembly.

In electric connectors of the type to which this invention relates, as illustrated in copending application U.S. Ser. No. 813,216, filed Apr. 3, 1969 of Harold E. Schleicher, on which this invention is an improvement, the dust seal gasket was provided exteriorly of the connector body. On top of the gasket was a covering annulus from which aligned flat fingers extended perpendicularly. On opposite sides of the fingers, clamping members were supported in position to clamp opposite sides of a conductor cable. The annulus was secured against the gasket and to the connector body by either screws or'rivets, which was a slow assembly procedure involving more parts than necessary.

According to the present invention, the gasket can be secured in place interiorly of the connector body by the action of simple manually-operated or machineoperated pressure; and the strain relief fingers are molded integrally with the body, thus saving greatly on the molding dies necessary and assembly cost.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an improved dust seal for connectors of the type having a multiwire conductor cable which enters a shell or hollow insulating body for connection to a male or female connector member mounted within the shell.

Another object is to provide a connector structure, capable of accomplishing the above objectives, which can be inexpensively assembled quickly from a minimum number of simple, easily stamped-out or mol'der parts, which engage within and are firmly held by the formation of the shell in which they are mounted.

Another object is to reduce the number of molded parts necessary, including the dies for making these parts, and also to reduce assembly operations, thus reducing overall costs of making and assembling the parts of the device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an exploded view partly in section of a connector body embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view looking into the shell in which a dust gasket and securing ring according to the invention have been assembled.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 1, with all the parts assembled.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the shell shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a cup-shaped shell or hollow insulating body 10, with a cylindrical side wall 12, and a radial end wall 13 is molded from insulating material with a central aperture 14 in the end wall 13 for passage of a conductor cable C having a plurality of conductor wires C1, C2 and C3 within an outer sheet as usual in such a conductor cable.

Within the shell against the inner surface of end wall 13 a thin, flexible, circular dust gasket or wafer 20 is positioned, having a central aperture for the cable C of lesser diameter than the cable and less than the aperture' 14 .of the shell, so that as the cable is inserted, it

will cause the periphery 22 of the aperture in the gasket to bend and hug the surface of the cable as shown in nos. 1 and 4.

In order to hold the dust gasket in place, a thin annular washer or ring 30 of nylon or other suitable insulating material is inserted in the shell 10 over and against the dust gasket. Both the dust gasket 20 and the securing ring 30 have three equally spaced small holes provided in them near their outer margins in position to receive equally spaced pins l6, l7 and 18, which project from the inner surface of the end wall 13 of the shell. Preferably, the pins are molded with the end wall 13 and extend parallel to the axis of the shell. In order for the pins to hold the gasket 20 and securing ring 30 after they are impaled on the pins l6, l7 and 18, the diameter of the pins is at least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the small apertures in the gasket and ring. In addition, the cylindrical surface'of the pins may be knurled or roughened or peripherally ringed or provided with contra-facingteeth to prevent by frictional engagement any withdrawal of the securing ring after it has been forced upon the pins.

The assembly of the gasket 20 and its securing ring 30 can be completed simply and inexpensively by merely inserting them in proper position, and then inserting a punch or tool in the open'mouth of the shell, and with a single push or blow, forcing "the gasket and ring in final position over the pins and against the inner surface of the end wall of the shell. I

In order to secure the cable against withdrawal, strain relief means is provided which can be supported from the shell itself directly, by having the support molded integrally on top of the shell. This is possible because no other parts need be inserted in between the strain relief support and shell. The support comprises two flat aligned radially-positioned fingers 19a and 19b extending perpendicularly outward from the top of the shell on opposite sides of the aperture 14 through which the conductor cable passes.

A hole is formed transversely through each finger to receive a screw bolt 40a and 40b. Two identical oppositely facing cooperating clamp members 42are provided, one on each side of the fingers 19a and 19b with apertures in each registering in the holes in the lugs through which pass the screw bolts. When the screw bolts are tightened, the conductor cable C is engaged and firmly gripped between arcuate bends such as 43 in the central portions of the clamps. Such clamping action prevents the cable from being pulled out of the shell, and also holds the cable centered and prevents it from moving radially within the shell aperture 14.

For connecting the inner ends of the conductor wires C1, C2, C3 there are providedwithin the shell, wire terminals 51, 52, 53 on the ends of the prong contacts 54, 55, 56. The contacts may be of the locking type which can be connected with cooperating contacts (not shown) carried by a mating connector (not shown) and locked thereto in connected condition, often called twist and turn" locking connectors; or the contacts may be of conventional push-in to connect and pull-out bers are mounted in an insulating body 50 of generally cylindrical shape having radial recesses in spaced posithrough which holes the bared ends of the conductor wires pass to the terminals 51, 52, 53. The disk serves to locate and maintain the spacing of the bared conductor ends. j

The body 50 and disk 60 are secured to the shell by screw bolts 62, which thread into three spaced bores 64 parallel to the shell axis in and around the body of the shell 10 near its periphery.

It will be noted that the bores 64 run through ribs 63 that are equally spaced around the inner periphery of the shell 10. The dust gasket is not cut away adjacent these ribs. As a result, when the securing disk is put in place (FIG. 4), the parts gasket adjacent the ribs bend up along the ribs, as at 31, and are gripped between the ribs and the periphery of the disk 30, thus providing. additional securement for the gasket at points spaced from the pins 16, 17 and 18.

The firm, spaced securement of the dust gasket is desirable particularly when a cable of large diameter is inserted. The aperture in the gasket must be made small enough to tightly fit around and be stretched by insertion of a small diameter cable. Hence, when a large diameter cable is inserted, it tends to pull the gasket out from the securing ring and the shell. The pins 16, 17 and 18 plus the three ribs 63 thus provide six evenly spaced points of securement to prevent tearing of the gasket and pulling out from between the ring 30 and shell wall 13.

As previously indicated, the invention is not limited to any particular form or shape of contact and terminal members, nor is it limited to a particular configuration of the mounting body and covering disk 60.

Many modifications within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art, therefore the invention is not limited to the exact configuration of the parts as illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. An electric connector comprising, a first insulating bodyhaving an opening for conductor cable, a flexible insulating waferlyin'g against one face of said first body with an aperture for passage of the conductor cable, said aperture being sized to receive and closely em brace the cable to prevent passage of dust from one side of said body to the other, a securing member lying against said wafer, means affixingsaid member to said body for holding said wafer permanently between said member and said body, a second insulating body cooperatively engaged with said first body, and connector contacts and wire terminals mounted on said second body for connection to the wire conductor in the cable. 2. A connector as'claimed in claim 1 wherein said first body is a hollow shell having a side wall closely fitting arou nd a similarly shaped side wall on said second body and preventing exterior contact with said wire terminals when said bodies are in assembled position.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wafer and said securing member have a plurality of registering perforations, and a plurality of projections integral with said first body forceable in said perforations and shaped to frictionally hold said wafer and securing member permanently in engagement with said first body.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first body has a plurality of integral projections and said wafer and securing member have a plurality of registering perforations, said securing member and wafer being impaled on and engaging said projections and being permanently secured thereby to said first body.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein additional securement of said'wafer is provided by means on the periphery of said ring member and on the inner wall of said shell member gripping said wafer at points spaced peripherally.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein additional securement of said wafer is provided by means on the periphery of said ring member and on the inner wall of said shell member gripping said wafer at points spaced peripherally from said projections.

7. An electric connector comprising, a hollow shell member having a cylindrical skirt portion and an aperture for a conductor cable, an insulating body telescoping into said skirt portion, connector contacts and wire terminals mounted on said body, with said terminals concealed within said shell, a thin flexible gasket within said shell having an aperture for passage of the conductor cable, said aperture having less diameter than the conductor cable and being adapted to embrace the cable to prevent passage'of dust from one side of said shell member to the other, a securing ring member lying against said gasket, and integral projections on said shell member on which said gasket and securing ring member are impaled, and by which the latter are held in assembled position with said gasket between said shell member and said securing ring.

8. An electric connector as claimed in claim 10 having means on the surface of said projections to ensure rough frictional engagement with said gasket and securing ring member in impaled position.

- 9. A connector as claimed in claim 10 wherein additional securement of said wafer is provided by means on the periphery of said ring member and on the inner wall of said shell member gripping said wafer at points spaced peripherally from said projections. 

1. An electric connector comprising, a first insulating body having an opening for conductor cable, a flexible insulating wafer lying against one face of said first body with an aperture for passage of the conductor cable, said aperture being sized to receive and closely embrace the cable to prevent passage of dust from one side of said body to the other, a securing member lying against said wafer, means affixing said member to said body for holding said wafer permanently between said member and said body, a second insulating body cooperatively engaged with said first body, and connector contacts and wire terminals mounted on said second body for connection to the wire conductor in the cable.
 2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first body is a hollow shell having a side wall closely fitting around a similarly shaped side wall on said second body and preventing exterior contact with said wire terminals when said bodies are in assembled position.
 3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wafer and said securing member have a plurality of registering perforations, and a plurality of projections integral with said first body forceable in said perforations and shaped to frictionally hold said wafer and securing member permanently in engagement with said first body.
 4. A connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first body has a plurality of integral projections and said wafer and securing member have a plurality of registering perforations, said securing member and wafer being impaled on and engaging said projections and being permanently secured thereby to said first body.
 5. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein additionAl securement of said wafer is provided by means on the periphery of said ring member and on the inner wall of said shell member gripping said wafer at points spaced peripherally.
 6. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein additional securement of said wafer is provided by means on the periphery of said ring member and on the inner wall of said shell member gripping said wafer at points spaced peripherally from said projections.
 7. An electric connector comprising, a hollow shell member having a cylindrical skirt portion and an aperture for a conductor cable, an insulating body telescoping into said skirt portion, connector contacts and wire terminals mounted on said body, with said terminals concealed within said shell, a thin flexible gasket within said shell having an aperture for passage of the conductor cable, said aperture having less diameter than the conductor cable and being adapted to embrace the cable to prevent passage of dust from one side of said shell member to the other, a securing ring member lying against said gasket, and integral projections on said shell member on which said gasket and securing ring member are impaled, and by which the latter are held in assembled position with said gasket between said shell member and said securing ring.
 8. An electric connector as claimed in claim 10 having means on the surface of said projections to ensure rough frictional engagement with said gasket and securing ring member in impaled position.
 9. A connector as claimed in claim 10 wherein additional securement of said wafer is provided by means on the periphery of said ring member and on the inner wall of said shell member gripping said wafer at points spaced peripherally from said projections. 